On this picture launched by Senator Van Hollen’s press workplace, Hollen, proper, speaks with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian citizen who was dwelling in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, in a lodge restaurant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Press Workplace Senator Van Hollen, through AP)
AP/Press Workplace Senator Van Hollen
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AP/Press Workplace Senator Van Hollen
The Trump administration obtained bipartisan criticism on Sunday for its deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a Salvadorian citizen who lived in Maryland and was deported to a jail in El Salvador resulting from an “administrative error.”
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., referred to as the deportation a “screw up” although he stopped in need of pushing for Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. In the meantime, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. — who not too long ago visited Abergo Garcia in El Salvador — stated the case marks a “constitutional disaster.” The Maryland senator additionally referred to as for a stress marketing campaign on El Salvador’s authorities to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.
The Trump administration has refused to deliver again Abrego Garcia regardless of a Supreme Courtroom order to “facilitate” his return. The Salvadoran citizen entered the nation illegally; an immigration choose stated he shouldn’t be deported to El Salvador as a result of Abrego Garcia was in a position to show he was more likely to endure persecution in his house nation.
The White Home has stated it could possibly’t drive the Salvadoran authorities to launch considered one of its residents, whereas El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele referred to as the concept of Abrego Garcia’s launch “preposterous.”
On Thursday, a federal court docket denied the Trump administration’s attraction on the court docket’s return-order.
‘Put up or shut up in court docket’
Sen. Van Hollen defended his latest journey to El Salvador Sunday after President Trump criticized his assembly with Abrego Garcia.
On Friday, Trump posed with a photograph of a person’s hand with tattooed knuckles.
“That is the hand of the person that the Democrats really feel must be introduced again to the US,” Trump wrote on X the day Van Hollen returned from his journey. “They stated he’s not a member of MS-13, despite the fact that he is bought MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles.”
That is the hand of the person that the Democrats really feel must be introduced again to the US, as a result of he’s such “a tremendous and harmless particular person.” They stated he’s not a member of MS-13, despite the fact that he’s bought MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Extremely Revered Courts discovered… pic.twitter.com/31sNr2k1SK
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2025
Van Hollen stated he did not see the markings on Abrego Garcia’s hand and that the president’s criticism and posts are inappropriate.
“I did not see a tattoo, however here is the primary level: Donald Trump and his administration have to put up or shut up in court docket,” Van Hollen stated on NPR’s Weekend Version. “They hold placing stuff out on social media.”
Final week, the Trump administration posted beforehand unshared paperwork on X relating to a 2021 protecting order in opposition to Abrego Garcia and a 2022 site visitors cease.
However Van Hollen stated these paperwork must be examined in court docket and the posts on social media are supposed to “change the topic” away from the administration’s mistake.
When requested whether or not his advocacy for Abrego Garcia is a political threat and may flip off voters — who largely help President Trump’s deportation efforts — Van Hollen stated he is not frightened.
“I feel voters help the concept of constructing positive that we respect constitutional rights as a result of if we deny them for one particular person, they might be subsequent,” Van Hollen stated. “I feel conservatives and libertarians, once they give it some thought, they’re going to acknowledge how harmful it’s to deprive somebody of their private liberty with out due course of.”
Abrego Garcia deportation ‘was a screw up’
Sen. Kennedy, a Republican, referred to as the Trump administration’s deportation of Abrego Garcia a “screw up,” but additionally criticized Van Hollen’s phrases as “rage bait.”
“The administration will not admit it,” Kennedy stated on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press with Kristen Welker’. “However this was a screw-up. Mr. Garcia was not presupposed to be despatched to El Salvador. He was despatched to El Salvador.”
The Louisiana lawmaker additionally stated Abrego Garcia ought to have obtained a listening to earlier than his deportation to El Salvador’s infamous mega-prison, CECOT.
However, Kennedy threw chilly water on the concept Abrego Garcia’s case marks what Van Hollen referred to as a “constitutional disaster.”
“The Democrats say, ‘Look, , we informed you Trump is a menace to democracy. That is going to occur each different Thursday afternoon,'” Kennedy stated mocking his liberal colleagues. “However I do not see any sample right here. I imply, , some day pigs might fly. However I doubt it.”
Kennedy argued that Abrego Garcia has obtained due course of — citing earlier, although non-specific court docket hearings — and that the Trump administration hasn’t defied a court docket order. However the Louisiana senator stated he’ll communicate up if Trump skirts an order from the judiciary department.
“I do not consider that President Trump will defy a federal choose’s order,” Kennedy stated. “If he does, I will name him out on it.”
Individually, Kennedy stated he disapproved of Trump’s concept of sending American criminals to El Salvador. He referred to as the concept not “applicable or ethical” — citing the eighth modification which protects U.S. residents from merciless and strange punishments.
